FBI arrests eight New York mafia men: prosecutor

AFP  Nov 24 08:35 PM US/Eastern

 

FBI agents arrested eight members of New York's Luchese organized crime family Monday on illegal gambling and narcotics charges, the federal prosecutor said.

An acting "capo" in the Luchese family and seven others were nabbed, US Attorney Michael Garcia said.

Anthony Croce, the man described as the capo, faces a maximum sentence of five years prison if convicted on the gambling charges.

Three others face heavier sentences of between five and 40 years if convicted on cocaine distribution charges, the prosecutor said.

New York's five mafia crime families -- the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese and Luchese -- have taken big hits in the last decade as veteran leaders died and turncoats helped the authorities make strings of arrests.

This August, New York police arrested the alleged former capo of the Gambinos, John "Junior" Gotti. He is due to be tried in Florida on racketeering charges.